Barring last-minute change of plans, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will officially flag off its presidential campaign for the 2023 elections in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, on Monday.
It was gathered that all arrangements have been concluded and party bigwigs, including the Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, have arrived the state capital for the campaign to wrest power from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Debo Ologunagba, the party's national publicity secretary, told journalists that preparations had been made for the campaign. He added that the PDP would run an issue-based campaign to persuade Nigerians to support its presidential candidate over the other candidates.
The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party headed by Senator Adolphus Wabara is reportedly working feverishly to entice Governor Nyesom Wike's camp to join the campaign.
Wike's most recent meeting with the BoT members in Port Harcourt ended in a deadlock. No middle ground could be found by either side. Even though the issue of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu's National Chairmanship of the Party relinquishing his seat now appears to be impossible, a Chieftain of the party told Daily Trust that the BoT is making last-minute efforts to negotiate a deal in favor of Wike and his camp.
The source said: “The Board of Trustee is making frantic efforts to see whether they can broker any peace deal before the campaign commences tomorrow. It is not going to be easy, but they have shown that they do not want to give up.
The main request made by Wike and his supporters is for Ayu to go, but I don't believe they will advise her to do so because to the timing and circumstances. The BoT is an advisory body, as you are aware. They merely offer advice. They are expected to meet with the National Working Committee (NWC) and then release a report outlining their recommendations for the future.
The decision to accept or reject the recommendations will now be up to the candidate, NWC, and Wike group. I am aware that several of the interested parties are anticipated to gather this evening to negotiate a settlement.